For a moment he sat feeding the flames carefully, his face more demoniac than ever in the red shadows which danced over it. Then, closing the door, he proceeded to the cellar and set fire to the rubbish there, and, finally, left the house and sat down on a little hummock of earth outside. Allan watched the flame grow and grow, the straw throwing off a dense cloud of smoke as it burned; he saw himself awaken, crawl to the door, along the hall, to the stairs; saw himself pitch headforemost through the darkness— “Mamie!” he cried. “Mamie!” And he started awake to find Mamie’s arms about him, and her dear face above him— ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER XXIV ALLAN FINDS HIS MATE FOR an instant, Mamie bent above him, gazing down at him, her face very tender; then she made as though to draw away, but Allan threw his arm about her and held her tight. “Is it a dream?” he asked, “or is it really you, Mamie?” “Oh, it isn’t a dream,” she answered, laughing. He drew a deep breath of relief as he looked up at her, and then glanced about the familiar room. “I’ve dreamed so many times,” he said, “and always you were bending over me—a sort of guardian angel—‘guarding me, out of all the world.’” Her colour heightened and her eyes grew bright. “It’s sweet of you to say that,” she said. “And you’re sure I’m not dreaming?” “No—but you were; you were crying out—” “Yes—I thought I was still in that old stone house. And I was crying for you, Mamie!” “For me?” “Yes, for you—just as I have done a dozen times before.” He stopped for an instant and gazed up into her eyes, and his lips were trembling. “Do you know why, Mamie?” he asked, at last. “Can’t you guess why?” Something in his face brought the hot colour to her cheeks, and she struggled to free herself from his arm. “Let me go, Allan,” she pleaded. “You mustn’t—” “Not yet. Not just for a moment. Do you know what you are to me, Mamie? The dearest thing in life! And I’m going to kiss you.” “No, no!” she cried. “Allan—” But he drew her lips down to his—such tender lips they were, so sweet, so dewy. “And I’m going to marry you as soon as I get well,” he announced, his cheek against hers. “And we’ll live happy ever after, like the prince and princess in the fairy tale. That is, of course, provided the princess is agreeable.” She drew a quick, startled breath, and lay still for a moment, warm against his heart; then she drew his hands away, raised herself and looked down at him with shining eyes. “Do you mean it, Allan?” she whispered. “Mean it? I mean it as I never meant anything else. Put that little ear of yours down to my lips, Mamie. I want to tell you something.” “What?” asked Mamie, her eyes luminous. “Put your ear down.” And Mamie bent a pink ear to his lips. “I love you!” he whispered into it, and kissed it.